Page printing teletypewriter



May 19, 1959 R. STABENAU PAGE PRINTING TELETYPEWRITER Filed Jan. 24,1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I ,fizz/eigfart laent fife/66mm.

J I I t y 19, 1959 R. STABENAU 2,887,531

PAGE PRINTING TELETYPEWRITER Filed Jan. 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 p,fiz/ezzfzt .Zoerpi Lita/banana,

nited States Patent PAGE PRINTING TELETYPEWRITER Robert Stabenau,Munich, Germany, assignor to Siemens .& Halske Aktiengesellschaft,Munich, Germany, a corporation of Germany Application January 24,1955,Serial No. 483,648

Claims priority, application Germany January 28, 1954 7 Claims. (Cl.178-25) The present invention relates to a page printing teletypewriterwith type basket.

As is well known, page teletypewriters are equipped either with a movingplaten carriage or with a moving type basket carriage. Teletypewriterswith moving type basket have the advantage over such with moving platenthat the paper feed process can be rendered considerably simpler becausethe paper supply roll need not be moved transversely.

For shifting from lower to the upper case and vice versa it hasheretofore been proposed, in case of page teletypewriters equipped withmoving type basket, to raise and to lower the platen. This solution,however, entails the disadvantage that, during shift operations, thepaper on which the message material is recorded does not remainstationary, but jumps with each shift operation so that coincidentreading of the typed text by the operator becomes rather diificult, allthe more so if several shifting operations follow in succession.

To eliminate this disadvantage, the invention provides, in a pageteletypewriter with the type basket moving, after each printingoperation, across the stationary platen by the distance corresponding toone character space and in case of several-in particular two-differentgroups of types, for a type basket which is shiftable vertically and inparallel with the vertical axis of the platen, and where the type bars,no matter for what type group the typing unit has been set, arecontrolled by selectable code bars through the medium of transfermembers which are shiftable, in each case, by an equal distance. Thisarrangement permits also simplification of the instrumentalitiesrequired for actuating line-feed, carriage return and other possiblefunctions, such as printing of standard forms. The advantage that eachcharacter can be read immediately after being printed is retained ineach case.

A further embodiment of the present invention provides for theaccommodation within the type basket proper of the instrumentalitiesrequired for the selection of the type bars and the horizontal steppingof the type basket, whereas the vertical shifting of the type basket isaccomplished by a drive system outside the type basket.

To accomplish this purpose, a special control segment may be associatedwith code ring segments, which are connected with the type basket,whereby the control seg-' ment is operated only when the code ringsegments are set in accordance with the code combinations for type groupshifting, thereby controlling the means provided for raising andlowering, respectively, the type basket.

Moreover, a type basket moving only transversely, parallel withthe-platen, can be supported on a carriage in such a way that it may bedisplaced vertically and at right angles with the direction of movementof that carriage.

Finally, a rail, to be actuated by the typing unit, may be provided forraising or lowering the type basket vertically to the line of printindependence of the chosen type group. t

A further embodiment of the present invention provides for T-shapedtransfer members which are pivoted onan axle which is mounted on asetting lever whose other en is pivoted to the frame of the type basket.1

A further embodiment of the present invention provides for a T-shapedtransfer member whose cross arm may consist of axially displacedfingers.

The transfer bars to be displaced in accordance with the selected codecombination may be tiltable about theirlower longitudinal edge and,depending on their respective position, the one or the other finger ofthe T-shaped transfer members may be allowed to contact the upper edgeof the transfer bar.

To compensate at least partly the Weight of the type basket, theinvention further provides for a compensating spring hooked between typebasket and type basket carriage.

In a page teletypewriter provided with a facility for optionallychanging from the one to the other of two different alphabets, arrangedin two rows of types, on the type pallets, this changeover operation isaccomplished, in accordance with a further embodiment of the presentinvention, by raising and lowering the platen. This shifting of theplaten need not be effected frequently, at any rate not during thetransmission of one and the same teleprinter message, but only whenconnection has been established with another teleprinter station. As aresult, there is usually no need to accomplish this function by remotecontrol. Adjustment to the desired platen position may also beaccomplished manually. It was found advisable to make the latching meansvery rugged to prevent accidental disengagement.

The present invention further provides for a lever, adjustable independence of the type group to be printed and, in connection with caseshift, so movable by the drive system of the typing unit, and the typebasket being so linked to this lever, that the type basket can beshifted to two different positions which are parallel to each other.This method permits an extremely simple device for raising and loweringthe type basket, which lends itselfparticularly well for actuation bypull bars. Only very few components are required which, together withthe type basket, travel in parallel with the line of print but, duringcase shift operations, are not displaceable vertically to the line ofprint.

The present invention further provides that the lever required forshifting the type basket vertically to the line of print has beendesigned as bellcrank whose one arm carries the type basket.

The present invention further provides that the lever required forshifting the type basket vertically to the line Fig. 2 shows insimplified perspective view the cooperation of parts of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 .to 6 are diagrams of the absolute and the relative position oftype bars and platen of a page teletype- Writer for two alphabets;namely, Fig. 3, Figures position of first alphabet; Fig. 4, Lettersposition of first alpha- 7 bet; Fig. 5, Letters position of secondalphabet; Fig. 6, Figures position of second alphabet.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 the rotatableplaten 1 of a pageprinting teletypewriter is disposed in front of a type basket 2 whichcan be moved both transversely and parallel to the line of print, andvertically to the line of print by the amount H" for performing the caseshift functions. The type basket rests with its two upper rollers 3 andits two lower rollers 4, the former being designed in the form ofdouble-taper rollers, on a tubular supporting rail 5. This supportingrail is mounted on a rocker arm 6 which is pivoted to shaft 7 and,together with the lever 8, which is rigidly connected with the rockerarm, forms a bellcrank. Another roller 9, mounted on the underside ofthe type basket, guides the latter along the rail 10 which is rigidlymounted and extends over the full width of the machine. To prevent thetype basket from moving away from rail 10 by any appreciable distance,the type basket has been provided with a guide pinll which glides withina small distance along the stationary rail 12 when the type basket ismoved to and fro across the platen. Rail 12 is disposed in front ofguidepin 11 and rail 10 behind roller 9. Five selectable code bars 13provided with notches for accomplishing operational functions, cooperatewith pull bars 14 and 15, one each being assigned to the Letters shiftor Figures shift function. These pull bars are linked to a lever 17which is pivoted to a stationary shaft 16. Lever 17 is articulated tolever 8 so as to form a toggle lever assembly. The shaft of the typingunit is indicated at 18. This shaft carries two earns 19 and 20, thelatter controlling rocker arm 21 which, against the action of spring 22,rocks that pull bar, which dropped into an alignment of notches of thecode bars 13, to the left. Cam 19 controls rocker arm 23 whichdetermines the instant when the selected pull bar drops into and when itis lifted clear of the code bars. Spring 24 has been provided to keepthe pull bars-in engagement with rocker arm 23 and with the code bars13, respectively. The latch lever 25, which is held, in engagement, byspring 26, with roller 27, acting as a latching and coupling rollerbetween the lever 8 and lever 17, serves for securing the type basket inthe upper or lower position. The weight of the type basket is largelycompensated by a spring 44 connected to the laterally extending ear ofrocker arm 6.

The travel of the type basket parallel to the axis of the platen fromprinting locus to printing locus may be accomplished by any desirablegear train arrangement. For instance, the type basket may be moved bymeans of a feed screw 28 which is turned step by step for each characterspace and is supported at both ends in the frame of the machine. Atoothed push rod 29, which is vertically slidable in the type basket,meshes with the feed screw. Ledge 30, which is guided in the frame ofthe machine, assures that the rod 29 is always held in the same verticalposition, no matter whether the type basket is raised or lowered. Duringthe carriage return operation ledge 30 is raised whereby the push orshifting rod 29 is disengaged from feed screw 28.

Actuation of the type bars 31 is accomplished by means of bail 32 which,in the illustrated normal position, 'lifts all pull bars 33, "to whichthetype bars are articulated, clear of the code ring segments 34.Springs 35 are provided to retain the pull bars in their normalposition. Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the code ring segments 34 areset by means of five selectable code bars 36 (only two are shown in Fig.1 to provide a clearer view) which are linked to code bars 13. Theirdisplacement is accomplished by means of transfer members 37 which arepivotally mounted on shaft 38. As shown in Fig. l and Fig.2, the entiretype-bar carriage or type basket. 2 is upon type-group change lifted andlowered, with the exception of the shifting rod 29, shaft 38, and thetransfer members 37. This shaft is always held at the same height by thestationary ledge 39. It reconnected with the lower end of rocker 40which, at its upper end, carrim shaft 41. Depending on the position ofthe type basket, this shaft 41 is positioned by a.

definite and equal amount either above or below axle 38. The code ringsegments 34 are connected with the extensions 43 of the transfer members37 by means of the nearly horizontally disposed arms 42. When, as soonas the code ring segments have been set, bail 32 moves to the left, allpull bars drop onto the code ring segments, the selected pull bar isallowed to engage and will be pulled to the left whereby the associatedtype bar 31 is swung upwards in an arc, into the dotted printingposition.

The raising and lowering of the type basket is accomplished as follows:Let it be assumed that the type basket is to be returned from theillustrated upper position by the distance H into the lower position.This operation takes place when a teleprinter signal is received which,in the above described manner, allows pull bar 14 to drop into analignment of notches in the code bars 13. This pull bar is then pulledto the left by the rocker arm 21 which is controlled by the typing unitshaft 18 by means of cam 20. At the same time pin 17a protruding throughslot 14a of this pull bar is pulled to the left, causing lever 17 to beshifted, against the action of spring 26 and after overcoming theunstable condition of levers 8 and 17 which are coupled to form a togglelever assembly, into its other end position. This movement isconsequently transferred to the lever S and the rocker arm 6 whichcarries the type basket. With its roller 9 the latter glides downward onrail 10 while the rollers 3 and 4 perform a relative movement about thesupporting rail 5. With the type basket in the new position, thelatching roller is positioned in the right hand recess of latching lever25. When a type bar is now actuated, the upper type face of the palletwill now strike against the desired printing locus.

Shifting to the upper case takes place in a similar manner by the pullbar 15 engaging pin 17]; of lever 17.

While the present invention has been explained and described inconnection with specific embodiments, it will be understood that thecase shift device may be designed in a different manner withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the. bellcrank formed by the components 6 and 8, may be substituted by adifferent linkage or in any other way. It may as well consist of onepiece. The toggle joint might also be dispensed with or be arranged onany other place of the control mechanism.

To meet special requirements it isv customary to design teleprinterssuitable for typing two different types of script, for instance, Latinand Cyrillic. The Figures shift position denoted by. the referenceletters Zi, whereby the respective figures are arranged in the center ofthe type pallets, is common to both languages. As can be seen from Figs.3 to 6, such teleprinters have type bars 131 whose palletshave beenassigned three type faces, the lower (Bu) pertaining to the Lettersposition of the Latin alphabet, the upper (Cy) to the Letters positionof the Cyrillic alphabet, and the type face located in between to thecommon Figures position. With the printer set for one of the two typesof script shifting is required either from the Bu to the Zi position(Latin) or from the Cy to the 21' position (Cyrillic). Figs. 3 and 4show the pallet face of a type bar striking against platen 132 in theFigures and Letters position for the Latin alphabet. When shifting fromLetters to Figures, the type basket must be lowered by the amount H,corresponding to the distance between the center lines of two type facerows. When shifting from Figures to Letters, it must be raised by thesame amount.

When changing from the one alphabet to the other, av requirement whichgenerally does not arise during the transmission of a single message butonly when connection has been established with another station,additional and not illustrated means must be provided for shifting alsothe platen by the amount H, that is, the platen must also be raised orlowered, respectively, by the dis,-

tance between two adjacent rows of type faces. Since,

the need for shifting also the platen occurs relatively seldom, platenshift may be accomplished manually. A specially controlled drive systemmight, however, also be provided for this purpose. Since, for example,in the position of the platen illustrated in Figs. and 6, the Figuresrow lies below the Letters row, the direction ofv movement of the typebasket when shifting from Cyrillic Letters to Figures must be oppositeto that required for shifting from Latin Letters to Figures. Thisreversal of movement may be easily accomplished with the aid of knownmeans.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A page printing teletypewriter for optionally changing from one tothe other of two different alphabets having figures common to saidalphabets and comprising a platen disposed in axially fixed position, atype basket containing type levers carrying types for said two alphabetsallotted to two case shift positions, means for disposing said typebasket for motion axially of said platen, control means for moving saidtype basket to effect case shifting in a direction vertically to theline to be typed and parallel to the typing plane, code ring segmentsoperatively related to said type levers, pull bars for actuating saidtype levers, bail means for actuating said type levers, said bail meansin the normal position thereof lifts said pull bars to which said typelevers are articulated clear of the code ring segments, and selectablecode bars operatively connected to said code ring segments forcontrolling the operation of said pull bars.

2. A page printing teletypewriter according to claim 1, wherein saidpull bars and said selectable code bars are disposed as parts of saidtype basket, and drive means disposed outside of said type basket foroperating said control means and including other pull bars for actuatingletters shift and figures shift, one pull bar for operating 6 a lettersshift and the other pull bar for operating a figures shift.

3. A page printing teletypewriter according to claim 2, comprising alever linked to said drive means, and means for linking said type basketto said lever for disposal of said type basket in two positionsextending in the typing plane and parallel to each other.

4. A page printing teletypewriter according to claim 1, comprisingspring means for compensating the weight of said type basket.

5. A page printing teletypewriter according to claim 1, wherein saidcontrol means comprises a bell crank having an arm operatively linked tosaid type basket.

6. A page printing teletypewriter according to claim 1, wherein saidcontrol means comprises toggle lever means including two arms, one armof said toggle means is operatively linked to said type basket and theother arm of said toggle means is operatively linked to other pull barsoperatively related to said different alphabets and said figures commonto said alphabets, and other selectable code bars operatively associatedwith said first mentioned selectable code bars and operatively relatedto said last-mentioned pull bars.

7. A page printing teletypewriter according to claim 1, comprising typepallets including three type faces carried by said type levers andhaving type faces assigned to said two different alphabets, and theintermediate type face including said figures common to said alphabets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 936,849 Barclay Oct. 12, 1909 1,426,768 Pfonnenstiehl et al Aug. 22, 19221,796,378 Krum Mar. 17, 1931 1,955,415 Dysart Apr. 17, 1934 2,349,674Potts May 23, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 628,815 Great Britain Sept. 6, 1949

